Best Rollaway Beds – 2019 Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

Last Updated on November 1, 2018

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Quick Summary

Rollaway beds, also known as folding beds, are handy accessories for guest rooms, hotels, and other places that accommodate temporary overnight sleepers. Most rollaway beds feature hinged metal frames and caster wheels, allowing them to be folded, transported, and stored much more easily than standard bed frames.

Rollaway beds sold today usually come with mattresses that measure four to six inches thick. In most cases, these mattresses are made from polyfoam or memory foam. They can typically support up to 400 pounds, making them ideal for single sleepers who are heavier or two lighter individuals. Though prices vary, most rollaway beds are available for less than $500.

Read on to learn more about styles and characteristics of rollaway beds, as well as some tips for first-time buyers. Below you’ll find our picks for the best rollaway beds sold today. Our choices are based on verified customer and owner reviews, as well as intensive product research and analysis.

Best Rollaway Beds – Tuck's Top 4 Picks

Our Editor’s Pick is the Lucid Rollaway Guest Bed, which exemplifies all of the best qualities in rollaway beds made today. This bed has a 4″ memory foam mattress constructed with a 1″ comfort layer and a 3″ high-density foam base, making it a comfortable option. The mattress is ‘Medium’ in terms of firmness, and is therefore suitable for most sleepers regardless of their weight.

The bed is built onto a sturdy steel frame that measures 12″ high. The spring-supported deck provides great mattress support, featuring a weight limit of 350 pounds. The Lucid Rollaway Guest Bed is available in Twin, Twin XL, and cot sizes. It is backed by a 10-year warranty, which is much longer than the average rollaway bed warranty; many do not come with any sort of warranty coverage.

Good for:

Single sleepers weighing less than 350 lbs.

Dual sleepers or children with a combined weight of less than 350 lbs.

Zinus is renowned for low mattress prices throughout the mattress industry, and this also extends to its rollaway bed selection. The Weekender Elite is our Best Value pick because it is widely available for less than $120, but it offers the same convenience and overnight comfort as many of its higher-end competitors. The 4″ mattress is built with a top layer of fiber padding and a high-density foam base, allowing it to sleep relatively cool compared to all-foam beds.

The steel frame is outfitted with lightweight mesh wires; the bed itself weighs roughly 31 pounds, making it lighter and easier to store than many rollaway beds sold today. Its weight limit is 250 pounds, making it most suitable for single sleepers or children. A storage bag is included with purchase. The Zinus Weekender Elite is backed by a one-year warranty.

The Milliard Premium Folding Bed, our pick for Sturdiest Rollaway Bed, is durable, dependable, and built to support more weight than most models sold today. Its robust steel frame is outfitted with a mesh fabric trampoline deck that can accommodate up to 400 pounds, making it suitable for most couples or single sleepers. The 4″ mattress is ‘Medium Firm,’ which is ideal for those who weigh 130 pounds or more.

The bed has 360-degree pivoting casters that make it easy to move when folded, and locking wheels that keep the bed in place when in use. Steel tubing reinforces the bed, which helps it resist wear and tear over time and lengthen its expected lifespan. Brackets are included to attach a headboard and footboard, as well.

Good for:

Single sleepers weighing up to 400 lbs.

Dual sleepers or children with a combined weight of less than 400 lbs.

Another pick from Zinus, the Resort Folding Guest Bed is our Best Rollaway Bed for Pressure Relief. This is due to its built-in 5″ mattress, which is thicker than most mattresses included with rollaway beds and made with a top layer of memory foam and a high-density polyfoam base. The mattress offers good cushioning and body-conforming to help alleviate aches and pains throughout the sleeper’s body.

The frame is made of steel and outfitted with metal slats, which provide great mattress support; the weight capacity is about 250 pounds. The bed measures 19″ high, which is higher than most rollaway beds; this creates abundant storage space underneath. The casters are held in steel frames for added durability and straps are included for easier breakdown and storage. The Zinus Resort Folding Guest Bed is backed by a one-year warranty.

Best Rollaway Beds Buyer's Guide

The term ‘rollaway bed’ refers to any bed that can be folded up for storage; these models are also known as ‘folding beds.’ Standard rollaway beds are usually outfitted with metal frames and caster wheels for more portability. While rollaway beds are most commonly found in hotels, these models can be quite handy for overnight guests in private residences. Prices for new rollaway beds vary by seller and model; most are available for less than $500.

This guide will explore designs and characteristics of rollaway beds, share some tips for first-time buyers, and list our top picks for rollaway beds that are currently available for sale.

What Is a Rollaway Bed?

Although specific designs vary, standard rollaway beds made and sold today feature the following:

A mattress that measures between two and five inches (2″ to 5″) thick. In most cases, the mattress will either be an innerspring or foam model.

A hinged steel frame attached to the mattress that can be folded in half. Most rollaway bed frames have center leg support, as well as pull-down bars at the head and foot for additional bed support.

A frame base to support the mattress. In most cases, the base will be made from either mesh fabric material or metal-wire lattice. However, some rollaway beds have metal or wooden slats instead.

At least four caster wheels with swiveling capabilities, which allow for easier mobility when pushing/pulling the bed in and out of storage. Some models feature at least two wheels that lock when stationary; this prevents the bed from accidentally rolling away.

Additionally, standard rollaway beds often share the following qualities and characteristics.

Weight capacity: Rollaway beds cannot support as much weight as standard mattresses and bed frames. The weight capacity for most rollaway beds sold today is 400 pounds or less. For this reason, rollaway beds are generally designed to support one person.

Limited sizing: Because they are normally intended for one sleeper, most rollaway beds are available in Twin and/or Full sizes. Smaller variations (such as ‘Narrow Twin’ or ‘Cot’ sizes) may also be available. A limited number of rollaway beds are offered in a Queen size, as well.

No headboard: In order to make them more portable and easier to store, rollaway beds almost never come with a headboard.

Ottoman option: While most rollaway beds fold in half, select manufacturers offer models that fold up into a square or round shape and can be housed in a small, cushion-top container that doubles as an ottoman footrest.

Pros and Cons of Rollaway Beds

Benefits and drawbacks of using a rollaway bed include the following:

Pros

Low price-point: With an average price of $500 or less, most rollaway beds are a cheaper alternative to purchasing a standard mattress for guest bedding.

Convenient storage: Rollaway beds are designed for easy storage, thanks to their hinged metal frames and thinner mattresses

Light and easy to move: Most rollaway beds weigh 60 pounds or less, and come with swiveling caster wheels that offer convenient mobility on different flooring surfaces.

Cons

Questionable durability: Rollaway beds — particularly models with all-metal frames — are susceptible to early deterioration. The expected lifespan is less than seven years, which is the average lifespan for standard mattresses of all composition types.

Noise potential: Rollaway beds can be quite loud. A significant number of sleepers have reported squeaks and creaks, particularly from all-metal frames.

Below-average support: Rollaway beds are generally not as supportive as standard mattresses. As a result, sleepers are more at risk to develop aches and pains after sleeping on a rollaway bed.

Important Considerations for Rollaway Bed Shoppers

When shopping for a new rollaway bed and comparing different brands and models, here are a few key variables to keep in mind.

What is your rollaway bed budget?

The general price range for rollaway beds that are currently sold is $100 to $500. Please note that more expensive models are usually associated with longer lifespans.

How often do you plan to use the rollaway bed?

If you occasionally host overnight guests and do not expect to use the bed much, then a cheaper model may be suitable. However, a more durable bed may be the best option if you plan to accommodate frequent guests.

What are the bed's dimensions?

Length, width, thickness, and height are important considerations if your guest room has limited space, but most models will easily fit in standard-size rooms.

What is the bed's weight capacity?

Rollaway beds with a weight capacity of 300 to 400 pounds will accommodate the vast majority of sleepers, but those with lower weight capacities may be problematic for heavier individuals.

What kind of frame does the bed have?

Rollaway beds with metal frames (usually steel and/or aluminum) are less durable than those with wooden components; however, metal frames also tend to provide more convenient portability and storage.

What kind of frame base is included?

The metal-wire lattice base is often associated with cheaper rollaway beds, but these frames do not provide as much mattress support as mesh fabric frames or wooden slats.

How important is noise potential?

All-metal frames are usually louder than frames with wooden components, but they also tend to be the least expensive.

What kind of mattress does the rollaway bed have?

Rollaway beds usually have innerspring or memory foam mattresses, and there are pros and cons for each. Innersprings tend to sleep cooler and are often priced lower, but they have shorter lifespans and can be quite noisy. Memory foam mattresses are virtually quiet and typically last longer, but they generally sleep hotter and are more expensive.

How thick is the mattress?

The thickest rollaway bed mattresses tend to fall between four and five inches (4″ to 5″). These mattresses provide better support for heavier individuals. However, the thicker the mattress, the more difficult the bed will be to move and store.

What mattress size do you need?

Twin-size rollaway beds are common, but Full- and Queen-size models are in more limited supply. King and California King sizes are virtually non-existent.

Does the manufacturer or seller offer a sleep trial and/or warranty?

Rather than offering standard sleep trials of 90 nights or longer, most rollaway bed sellers will only allow customers to return the model within 30 nights or less. Warranty coverage tends to span 10 years or less, but most rollaway beds do not come with any sort of product warranty.